Topical cyclosporine A in severe steroid-dependent childhood phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of topical cyclosporine A (CsA) in children with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis associated with severe steroid-dependent corneal inflammation. DESIGN: Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. METHODS: patients: Children with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis associated with severe steroid-dependent corneal inflammation and not responding to oral antibiotics (cyclines or erythromycin). intervention: Topical CsA 2% four times daily, initially combined with topical dexamethasone for the first week. main outcome measures: Efficacy was judged by the patients (symptoms and ocular redness) and by the ophthalmologist (ocular redness and corneal inflammation). The patients were monitored for adverse effects, and cyclosporinemia was determined every 3 months. RESULTS: We studied 11 children (13 eyes) with a mean age of 9 years (range, 4 to 15 years). Inflammation was controlled in all the eyes within 14 days. Inflammation did not recur during CsA monotherapy, during a mean follow-up of 12 +/- 8 months (range, 6 to 31 months). CsA therapy was stopped in eight patients (10 eyes) after a mean treatment duration of 13 +/- 9 months (range, 6 to 31 months), and no recurrences occurred during 10 +/- 3 months of follow-up (range, 6 to 12 months). Local tolerance of CsA was good. None of the patients had detectable CsA blood levels. CsA was withdrawn in one case after 6 months, because of generalized skin rash. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term topical CsA 2% therapy is safe and effective in children with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis associated with severe steroid-dependent corneal inflammation